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Re "AB 103: The wrong right," editorial, Feb. 3 I believe The Times' editorial misconstrues the intent of AB 103. This is a simple matter of tax equity that carries out the basic premise of Proposition 13 -- to prevent unexpected increases in property taxes for owners who choose to stay in their homes. AB 103 is narrowly crafted. The exclusion is limited to two people who own a home for a minimum of one year as their principal place of residence, and only applies if one of the co-owners passes away and full ownership is granted to the survivor via trust or will.

After the film "300" hit the screen in 2006, Google trends showed a threefold increase in searches for "six-pack abs. " And every magazine with the word "muscle" in its title shared a version of a "Secrets of the '300'" workout. But there are no secrets to seeing your abs. Methods vary, but they sum up as: Train hard. Eat fewer calories than you burn. The end. The sequel, "300: Rise of an Empire," is now in theaters, and the actors recently gathered at a Century City hotel to talk about their physical transformation from ordinary humans to chiseled glory.

We are the authors of an often-cited study about the economic impact of California's landmark global warming law, AB 32. The law was passed in 2006 to control the state's greenhouse gas emissions; now some in Sacramento want to see it shelved. And to bolster their case they are misrepresenting our research — despite the facts and over our objections. Our research, "Addressing the Employment Impacts of AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act," which was released in February 2009, has been used by groups like the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

As much performance art as movie, "300: Rise of an Empire" unfolds as beautiful, bloody, slow-motion machismo. Torsos bared, swords flashing, another 300 rock the leather skirts and loincloths with pounding, passionate music perfectly underscoring this latest round of the "beautiful death" the ancient Greeks were so poetic about. Though it is hard to replicate the freshness of the first, "Rise" is almost as visually stunning as 2006's "300," when Gerard Butler as King Leonidas sacrificed Sparta's finest abs in a no-win battle against the Persian god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro)

SACRAMENTO - State lawmakers sent to the governor Monday a bill that would exempt drug users from prosecution if they seek medical help. Lawmakers from both parties said the measure was necessary to curb what studies show is a rise of overdose deaths in California. Drug users often do not seek help for fear of prosecution, they contended. The proposal by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) stipulates that it is not a crime to be high or possess illegal drugs or paraphernalia when seeking medical assistance.

Your editorial, "A Boost for Mental Health," was all of that and, hopefully, a lot more. The public must respond with positive political action to ensure that the concepts as envisioned in AB 2541 become realities. Let your legislators know that "Aye" is the expected response when AB 2541 hits the floor in Sacramento. NICHOLAS JAY Los Angeles

Your July 16 editorial, "Time to Heed Consumer Concerns," unfairly misleads the public and indicates your lack of understanding of AB 2161 by Assemblymen Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) and Bill Jones (R-Fresno). AB 2161 would make important and significant changes in the way pesticides are regulated and monitored in California. It seeks to improve California's pesticide regulatory system, already the most progressive in the world. You correctly stated that AB 2161 establishes a testing program for processed foods and expands residue monitoring of raw agricultural products.

The Dodgers'Jerry Hairston Jr. is among a group of major leaguers whose ability to play capably at multiple positions enhances their value to their teams. A look five other top utility players: Jeff Keppinger, Tampa Bay Rays Keppinger has played in 27 games at third base, 18 at second base, and also has played first base and designated hitter. He has been especially effective against left-handed pitchers, batting .426. During his career, he's played every defensive position except for center field and catcher.

Wilson vetoed the sexual harassment bill because he said it was unfair to businesses. These are the same reasons he gave for his veto of AB 101. Wilson has now asked the author of the harassment bill to hammer out a new version that will not put a burden on California businesses. Why has Wilson not done the same on the gay rights bill? This is another example of the homophobic actions that AB 101 was to try to stop. I ask Wilson to follow his own lead and hammer out a version of AB 101 that he can sign.

Though I understand Barry Weiss' anger over Gov. Pete Wilson's veto of AB 101, I am saddened that he directs his anger at the heterosexual community (letter, Oct. 11). My husband and I have both worked since our marriage in 1982; we bought our first home based on two incomes and moved up to our second on two incomes. When our first child was born earlier this year, I contemplated leaving the work force to raise her. Financially, it was just not feasible. I resent Weiss' inference that anyone who cannot stay home to raise children is irresponsible.

We've all been there at some point, sitting in a restaurant ordering dinner when the waiter sneezes and mumbles an apologetic, "Sorry, I'm fighting a cold. " Why is he at work? Especially at a job that brings him close to other people? Maybe it is because he can't afford to miss the shift, something that a recently introduced Assembly bill could help remedy. AB 1522, introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), would require companies to provide a minimum of three days annual paid sick leave for any employee not covered by a collective bargaining agreement (which usually includes sick leave guarantees)

January 4, 2014 | James S. Fell, Fell is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and founder of sixpackabs.com

The skinny guy doesn't get cast as Hercules. Conversely, you can't just go down to the Gold's Gym in Venice Beach and hire some muscle head to play the lead in a big-budget 3-D movie. Acting chops to go with the bulging biceps and rippling midsection are required. "The Legend of Hercules," opening Friday, has Kellan Lutz leaving "Twilight" vampires behind and returning to Greek mythology. The actor who played Poseidon in "Immortals" goes from god to demigod, but with added muscle.

I had my first green-machine experience on the track, at Keith Code's California Superbike School in Willow Springs. In the years since, I've ridden Ninja's new 636 and the 300 models -- and loved them. So I was delighted to hear Kawasaki had added a sport-touring version of the Ninja to its lineup, and excited about taking a ride. I found the resulting Ninja 1000 ABS a happy marriage of power and comfort, featuring superbike performance and speed with some sport-touring bike ergonomics.

SACRAMENTO - It seems pretty simple: If a student has male genitalia, the kid uses the boys' bathroom. If there are female organs, then it's the girls' room. Right? But what if the student wears a skirt, makeup and lipstick, and has a penis? Which restroom then? California voters may be asked to answer that question next year in the November election. And it's not really so simple after all. What if a kid with a penis is standing at the boys' urinal wearing a dress and a pretty hair bow?

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law legislation that was heavily lobbied by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and aimed at boosting sales of high-tech goods and services. Four measures, part of a package of 18 business-friendly bills approved Friday, seek to ease the regulatory burden on developers of smartphone-based payment systems; reverse a retroactive tax hike on investors in small start-up companies, and create a "Made in California" program to help market innovative, locally manufactured consumer products.

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday signed 10 bills that his office said will help protect “the most vulnerable Californians - homeless children and adults and foster youth.” The measures include one that establishes "runaway and homeless youth shelters” as a new kind of group home and requires them to be licensed and overseen by the Department of Social Services. There are an estimated 200,000 minors in California who are homeless, according to the California Homeless Youth Project, which operates under the California Research Bureau.

You drool all over yourselves with your gushy praise ("O.C. Legislator, Gun Lobby Duel Over School Violence," Aug. 29) of Assemblywoman Doris Allen's bill AB 2752 (which directs schools to punish pupils for racist hate crimes). Don't you understand that if this bill passes, a high school principal can keep the L.A. Times off the campus? The issue is free speech, Times. AB 2752 is a bad bill and should be defeated. It'll never stand up under the U.S. Constitution. H. MILLARD Costa Mesa

"An Rx Against Violence" (editorial, April 14) accurately depicts the landscape of treatment for mental illness in California. It is like a train wreck with bodies scattered and left to die. As a person with mental illness I pray that AB 1421 passes. While I am recovering and now working, not so many years ago I was homeless and crying out in my own pain, "Don't touch me." Should I ever become that ill again, I hope AB 1421 will be available to help me if I am too sick to help myself.

Ab Taylor, a plain-spoken Texan who became a legend in the arcane art of man-tracking during three decades with the U.S. Border Patrol and later taught children how to survive if they became lost in the wild, has died. He was 88. Taylor, who had Alzheimer's disease, died Sept. 9 in the community of Alpine in eastern San Diego County, his family said. As he patrolled the rugged, unpopulated stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border, Taylor developed expertise in looking for the small signs - a broken twig, a small footprint, rocks out of place, patterns in the dust - that indicated the passage of immigrants trying to sneak into the United States.

SACRAMENTO -- Republicans in the state Capitol have a message for their counterparts representing California in Congress: It's time to act quickly on comprehensive immigration reform. Fifteen GOP senators and assemblymembers have signed a letter to Republican members of the state's congressional delegation, urging them to encourage House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) to vote on immigration by the end of the year. The letter "shows there's a growing solidarity among Republicans to support action on immigration reform and to put this issue behind us as a state and as a nation once and for all. And to do so this year," Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo)